The Waipawa River is a braided river of southern Hawke's Bay, in New Zealand's eastern North Island.[1] It flows southeast from the slopes of 1,687 m (5,535 ft) Te Atuaoparapara (once known as 'Sixty-six')[2] in the Ruahine Range, past the town of Waipawa, before joining the Tukituki River.[3] The river rises at the 1,326 m (4,350 ft) Waipawa Saddle, which is also the source of the Waikamaka River.[4] The Mangaonuku Stream is a tributary on the northern bank, west of Waipawa, near Ruataniwha.[5] The Waipawa's flow is generally greater than that of the Tukituki River, into which it flows.[6]
| Waipawa River | |
|---|---|
 Waipawa town and river in 1885 | |
| Location | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Ruahine Range |
| • elevation | 1,687 m (5,535 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Tukituki River |
• elevation | 120 m (390 ft) |
| Length | 57 km (35 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Makaroro River Mangaonuku Stream |
The Old Bed of Waipawa River flows roughly parallel with and north of the present Waipawa River to join the Tukituki through the Papanui Stream, south west of Lake Poukawa.[7] The Waipawa changed its course during a flood in 1868.[8] It reverted to its old course during Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, until the Coronation Park stop bank in Waipawa was repaired on 16 February, returning the Waipawa to its post-1868 course.[9]
River quality is sampled at the SH50 bridge. At that site its Macroinvertebrate Community Index is C (of grades A to D) and likely degrading, but it is in the best 25% of rivers for most samples, except clarity. In warm weather cyanobacteria sometimes develop.[10] Other main routes crossing the river are SH2 and the Palmerston North–Gisborne railway at Waipawa.[11]
There are hundreds of banded dotterel (pohowera) and pied stilt around the river.[1]
Waipawa Forks Hut provides accommodation close to the headwaters of the river.[12] On the ridge to the north, above the headwaters, is Sunrise Hut. It is the most popular hut in the Ruahine Park and was renovated in 2020.[13] A day walk is possible, via Sunrise and the Saddle.[14]
References edit
- ^ a b "Waipawa River" (PDF). Hawkes Bay Regional Council. 2018.
- ^ "Te Atuaoparapara". gazetteer.linz.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Te Atuaoparapara, Manawatu-Wanganui". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Waipawa Saddle, Hawke's Bay". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Ruataniwha, Hawke's Bay". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Recreational River Survey. Water & soil miscellaneous publication no. 13 (1981)" (PDF). NIWA.
- ^ "Old Bed of Waipawa River, Hawke's Bay". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "LATEST TELEGRAMS. HAWKE'S BAY HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 June 1868. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Central Hawke's Bay District Council". www.facebook.com. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ "Waipawa Rv at SH50 River Quality". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Waipawa, Wellington". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Waipawa Forks Hut". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Popular Sunrise Hut revamped". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "A challenging day tramp in the Ruahine Ranges". Napier Tramping Club. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2021.